Hundreds of demonstrators had amassed at the pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA on Wednesday evening, with law enforcement standing by after campus officials ordered protesters on both sides to disperse.
The dispersal order came less than 24 hours after violence erupted at the encampment Tuesday night when counter-demonstrators supporting Israel tried to dismantle the encampment. The chaos represented an escalation locally since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
As the “Palestine Solidarity Encampment” entered its seventh night of their Royce Quad occupation on Wednesday, campus police declared the protest of the “Palestine Solidarity Encampment” an unlawful assembly around 6 p.m., and announced over a loudspeaker demanding for demonstrators to clear out from the encampment. A couple hundred demonstrators had occupied the encampment throughout the day and, around 6:30 p.m., another 200 people gathered at the steps leading up to Royce Quad.
🚨UCLA is blasting an announcement on speakers demanding all students leave the Palestine Solidarity Immediately. A massive law enforcement presence is standing by, signaling an effort to clear the encampment could take place soon. 🚨
— Clara Harter (@_ClaraHarter) May 2, 2024
UCLA had already canceled classes on Wednesday after the clashes the previous night, which led to 15 injuries, with an announcement in the evening advising students and staff that classes would be held remotely Thursday and Friday.
Chancellor Gene Block issued a statement early Wednesday saying that a “thorough investigation” will be conducted into the violence that erupted on campus Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, including a probe of the university’s “own security processes.” Critics have pointed to a delay in the law enforcement response of more than two hours as violence broke out Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
The Federated University Police Officers’ Association, which represents police officers within the…
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